Safety percussion-fuse



A. S. BALDWIN.

SAFETY PERCUSSION FUSE. o APPLI'CAILQN FILED IAN.8.19\1.

1,3 1 1,672, Patented July 29, 191.9,

WITNESS: INVENTOR.

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A TTORNEYS THE COLUMBIk PMNDGRAPH col, WASHlNfiToN. D. Q

ARTHUR s. BALDWIN, or ALTrMonn, MABYLAND.

SAFETY PERCUSSION-FUSE. I

Specification of Letters Patent. I I Patentfl J lily 29, 1919.

Application filed January 8, 1917; Serial No. 141,098. v 1

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, ARTHUR S. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Percussion-Fuses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fuses for shells or projectiles and-has reference to that class of fuses known asinertia operated fuses.

The present invention isdirected particularly to improved means for retaining the firing devices of the fusein'a safety condition, both against accidental arming, and

against firing, even if said devices should accidentally be moved to the armed position.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a firing pin and plunger, which are normally capable of independent movement when in the safety, unarmed condition, but

which become lockedtogether when armed, and I also provide improved means for holding the looked-together plunger and pin, against movement toward the primer until the fuse is projected with a shell from a gun. j

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein', 7

Figure 1,. illustrates the improved fuse device in longitudinal .section, '-the parts being shown in the safety or unarmed position.

Fig. 2, show a cross-sectional. detail through the same,the section being taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. .3, illustrates the fuse in longitudinal section but with theifiring devices in an armed but locked position to prevent firing.

Fig. 4, shows a cross-sectional detail through the latter,-the sectionfbeing taken on the line 4. 4:,0f Fig. 3, and I Fig. 5, illustrates the detached plunger in side elevation. I

In the drawing the case or stock 6, has aform adapting it for use in the base of a shell or projectile. This however, is immaterial as it is obvious, the device, with slight modification, can readily be adapted for attachment to the POiIItor nose of a shell.

The case or stock is provided withexterior screw-threads 7,, and an interior circular chamber 8, which latter extends longitudinally of the stock, and is closed at the inner end by a cap 9, in which the primer 10, and

an additional powder charge 11, are located.

communicate.

I By referring to A plunger 12 is positioned in the chamber 8, of the stock,1and in the present instance,

this plunger has the formof a metal body of a cross-sectionalshapethat conforms to the shape of the chamber-in which it; is

located.

v The plunger body, in'the present instance, has a passage13, extending upwardly from the lower end and a centralpassage 14:, that extends downwardlyfrom the upper end 13, whereby to formanannular shoulder 15, at the point where the two passages A firing pin 16, extends longitudinallyin but of a smaller diameter than the passage,

the passages 13, and l gand one end of this pin has. ahead 17, whose upper end forms an annular shoulder 18, in the passage 13, so

, that a'coiled spring-19', may encircle the pin and have one end seated on the head-shoulder 18, and the other end seated against the.

shoulder 15,-in the central passage. The lower endof the pin-head 18,istapered:or pointed whereby to produce an undercut or shoulder 20, for a purpose/which will presently be explained. I

. At the lower; end,.the p lunge r body 12, V

has an annular projection or boss 21 which depends around the head of the firing pin and projects toward the outer end wall'22, of the stock chamber. V Fig; 1, of the drawing it will be seen that the coiled spring19, acts .to force the. plunger-body in one direction and the firing pin in areverse direction and -by its action the plunger, is: yieldingly pressed toward the cap 9, atone end of the chamber 8, while the beveled end'ofithe firing pin head is held yieldingly against the end wall 22, at the opposite end of the chamber 8. y From actual tests I have found that under severe accidental shocks, much less however, than the shockproduced upon. firing from a gun, the spring 1 9,.may yield sufficiently to allow the plunger to move longitudinally in the chamber 8, and strike against the end wall 22, with sufficient force to lock the plunger and firing-pin head together, whlch would cause the firing devices to become armed, and I therefore provide v improved. means to avoid this dangerous condition, which will now be explained.

The plunger body 12, isprovided'with a longitudinalpassage 23, which is eccentrically located therein, and: which gextends from the outer end into the plunger .body.v I also provide the ,plunger body with a cross-wise or horizontal slot 24, which eX- tends across the said passage 23, 'so that thin plate 25, may extend across said pas- .sage like a partition, It will be notedthat '23, in'the plunger body. "The inner-end of this bar or stem-terminates in the-passage adjacent to the partition plate 25, when the plunger body is in the safety, orunarmedpo- -S1t101'l, asshown in' Fig. 1, -of-the drawing.

This bar 26,and -thepassage 25,form adielike' structure, in 'that the b2 n"n1u; it punch through the plate -25, -to permit longitudinal movement of 'the' plunger, as will pres- -ently' be more-fully explained;

The inner end 27, of the plunger-body is provided with a cross -wise notch which "forms a ledge 28, in a plane below said -end and produces a. vertical wall 29, between the ledge and the end, anda vertical passage 'or slot 30,-is provided in the side ofsaid body,

which passage extends from the lower end of the bodyupto and opensat said ledge'28.

A yielding or' spring bar 31, has its lower end seated ln'lllle en'd of the' caseors,tock and said bar-eXtend-sfreely throughthe passage or='slot 30, in t'h'e plunger body andyprojects above the ledge .28. This "projecting end of the 'springbar' carries a laterallyex tend ing header lug-'32, which projects toward the center of the plungerf body'for a purpose'whieh will presentlyhe explained. In practice the case-or stock containing the fuse device isattached to ashell in the well-known"way,j-at which-time the plungerbodylQ, is held bythe spring "19, with its inner end 27, seated'against'the cap 9,a1nd with the firing pin pressed in a reverse direction with its beveled head-end seated against the end 'wall 22, o f the chamber 8. At this time {the inner end of the punch- 26, will have position in the passage23, adjacent to the partition ,plate25, so that movement of the'plunger body toward the end 22, of chamber 8, cannot take place unless theforce is sufli'cient :to cause thepunch to pass through orpierce the partition plate. "I have 'found by tests that a thin copper plate meets the requirements of this partition and will withstand the punchi'ng tendency of 'the punch *26, under any ordinary shock to which the shell might be subjected duringhandling or shipment. The punch or stem 26, by entering the vertical' passage 23, in the plunger body also serves as a guideto prevent rotation "of the plunger-body in the stock or case.

WVliile the plunger-body'is in the unarmed explosive element.

.the firing devices when they or.safety position, the upper end of the spring bar 31, and the head or lug 32, thereon, will be pressed outwardly,the head or lug -a=t;such time seating against the vertical wall '29, and projecting over the ledge 28, of-the plunger-body.

If for any reason a shell containing this .improved fuse-device should accidentally receive suiiicient shock to cause the punch to pierce the plate'25, drivethe plungerbo'dy' against-the end wall 22, with su'l'licient torce'to upset the metal of the projection or boss'a-nd lock the body and firing pin together, then upon such movement of the plunger body'from the cap '9,the spring bar 31, will spring inwardly and project the lug 1 or head 32, over the end 27, of the plunger body and securely hold the plunger body "and firing-pin against a-return 'movement toward the primer 10, and thereby lock the 'armed firingdevices, plunger -and pin,

{against movement in-a direction that would cause an accidental explosion.

It will thus be seen that the punch pin 26, and partition plate 25, will serve to prevent the plunger" body and firing pin from becoming locked together under ordinary shocks, but that ifzsufiicient shock is given to cause said parts to become armed, then the spring bar 3l,and head 32, will operate to prevent the armed devices from moving "toward the "primer, and the shellwill still be safe to handle.

VVhen thes'he ll is fired, however, from a -gun, the centrifugal'motion imparted to it during itsfiight will cause the spring bar '31 and' head 32, to swing outwardly, and the plunger body will thus be released so that when the shell strikes the plunger body and firing pin may "move "forward while the pin strikestheprimer 10, and causes the desired explosion. v

' Having described my invention what I claim and desire-to secure by United States Letters Patent is,' i V 1;In a safety fuse .device for shells or projectiles tlie'combination with a case hav- ;ing a chamber'therein, of an explosive element; firing devices in said chamber; means "for restraining the v.said firing devices against movement 'to an armed position and locki-ngmeans for engaging the firing devices when they move to the armed position and prevent movement of the same to the 2. Ina safety fuse device for shells or projectiles the combination with a case. havfor restraining the said firing devices against movement to an armed pOSltlOlI and centrifugally-movable means for engaging rmed P s t o a V SJIn'a safety fuse device for shells or move to the projectiles the combination with a case having a chamber therein, or an explosive element; firing devices in said chamber; means for restraining the said firing devices against movement to an armed position and yielding means movable between the firing devices and explosive element when said firing devices move to the armed position and said yielding means being movable by centrifugal force to release the firing devlces.

4. I11 a safety fuse device for shells or projectiles the combination with a case having a chamber therein, of an explosive element; firing devices in said chamber including a plunger; means for restraining the plunger against movement in a direction to arm the firing devices and means for looking the plunger against movement toward the explosive element after said firing devices have been moved to the armed position.

5. In a safety fuse device for shells or projectiles the combination with a case having a chamber therein, of an explosive element; firing devices in said chamber including a plunger; means for restraining said plunger against movement to an armed position and yielding means normally held by the plunger in an inoperative position and released when the plunger moves to an armed position said yielding means when released engaging the plunger to prevent movement of the latter to the firing element.

6. In a safety fuse device for shells or projectiles the combination with a case having a chamber therein, of an explosive element; a plunger body in said chamber; a firing pin in said chamber; means for preventing movement of the firing pin toward the explosive element; means for restraining said plunger against movement from the safety position, and means for locking the plunger and pin against movement toward the explosive element when they become armed.

7. In a safety fuse device for shells or projectiles the combination with a case having a chamber therein, of an explosive element; firing devices in said chamber'including a plunger; a plate carried by the plunger; means carried by the case for engagmg said plate to restrain the plunger against movement and means for locking the plunger and firing devices against movement toward the explosive element after the restraining means has released the plunger.

8. In a safety fuse device for shells or projectiles the combination with a case having a chamber therein, of an explosive ele ment; firing devices in said chamber including a plunger; a plate carried by the plunger; a pin carried by the case, and engaging the plate to restrain the plunger against movement, and a yielding device normally the plunger-passage; a pm carried by the case and enterlng said passage with its end at one side of said partition; a firing pin also in said chamber, and means for locking the plunger and firing pin after they have been moved to an armed position.

10. In a safety fuse device for shells or projectiles the combination with a case having a chamber therein, of an explosive element; a plunger in said chamber said plunger having a assage therein; a partition in the plunger-passage; a pin carried by the case and entering said passage with its end at one side of said partition; a firing pin with which the plunger becomes engaged under shock, and a yielding engaging device to engage the plunger when the latter and the firing pin become engaged,to prevent movement of the plunger and pin toward the explosive element.

11. In a safety fuse device for shells or projectiles the combination with a case having a chamber therein, of an explosive element; a plunger in said chamber said plunger having a central passage and also a side passage; a firing pin in the central passage of the plunger; means for locking the plunger and firing pin together by shock and ayielding arm extending through the side passage of the plunger and yieldingly engaging the plunger when the latter and the firing pin become locked together, to prevent accidental movement of plunger and pin toward the firing element.

12. In a safety fuse device for shells or projectiles the combination with a case having a chamber therein, of an explosive element; a plunger body in said chamber; a

'firing pin extending longitudinally in the plunger body; means for normally holding the firing pin against movement toward the explosive element; means independent of the pin-holding means to normally prevent movement of the plunger body with respect to the firing pin, and means for holding both the firing pin and lunger body against movement toward the explosive element when the plunger and pin become accidentally armed.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR S. BALDWIN. lVitnesses:

FRANCIS S. STIERTZ, WM. M. TUCKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

